Code bar construction



Oct. 3, 1939. L. M. POTTS 2,174,595

CODE BAR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed March 25, 1 931 INVENTORJ LOUIS M.POTTS 1 ORNEY.

Patented, Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE CODE BARCONSTRUCTION Louis M. PottaEvanston, Ill., assignor to TeletypeCorporation, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Delaware 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to selecting or translating mechanismssuch as are used in telegraphic signaling apparatus, and particularly tocode bar construction for rendering versatile the distribution andarrangement of selectable members.

This is a divisional application of which the parent application iscopending Serial No. 525,189 filed March 25, 1931.

In mechanical selectors, permutative characteristics have been vested inthe selecting members in which case an individual and permanentarrangement of clearance notches is carried by said permutablydisplaceable selecting members, or where the notches of the selectingmembers are arranged in regular recurrence and do not carry the codepattern, the code characteristics are made permanently a part of theselectable elements.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is the provision of acode selecting apparatus inv which each selecting member is equippedwith alternative selecting characteristics in the proximity of each codeposition and in which the individually selectable factors are providedwith transposable elements which may be arranged predeterminedly topresent any desired code in any of a number of different positions.

Other features of the invention will appear from the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in whichlike reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout andin which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a selector mechanism such as forms partof the disclosure in the aforementioned copending application;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through one of the individuallyselectable elements featuring its manner of mounting and support as wellas its cooperation with a typical one of the selector bar assemblies;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken longitudinally along a lineparallel to one of the selector bar assemblies; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view similar to'that illustratedin Fig. 2 but featuring particularly the interchangeable code elementsand their manner of assembly.

Though the instant invention concerns itself primarily with the novelprinciples afiecting only certain ones-of the code bars and theselectable elements illustrated in Fig. 1, so much of the descriptionwill be included herewith as will assist in an understanding of theapplication of this improvement to a system such as that which forms thesubject matter of the parent'application referred to above. Alsoconforming with this plan of reference, certain ones of theidentification characters used in said parent application are repeatedin the accompanying drawing in order that corresponding parts may bemore easily identified.

The reference character 162 indicates a set of primary code selectingbars which may be permutably positioned by the use of a receivingdistributor of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,821,110 or of thetype shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,811,131. Also under the supervision ofthis type of distributor are a pair of control shafts more particularlyreferred to as a sequence shaft 114 and an operating shaft 18L Rotationis imparted to shafts 114 and 'I8l by means of friction clutches throughthe gears I15 and H9, illustrated in said copending application. Shaft114 is adapted to be arrested in any of four positions at quadrature.Shaft 'I8l is provided with a stop disc for effecting its arrest at'asingle angular position during its cycle. The supervision of the stopdisc arresting pawl is subordinated to a cam carried by the distributormechanism so that for each rotation of the distributor shaft, operatingshaft 18! is permitted one cycle of rotation. Suitable escapementapparatus, shown in said parent application, supervises the quadraticcontrol of shaft 114. This also is under the supervision of thedistributor through the instrumentality of certain ones of the codeselecting bars 162. The escape mechanism referred to is provided-foradapting the selector to a special case shift supervision, the detailsof which are not material to the present disclosure.

In- Fig. 1 are two series of code bars indicated I80 and 828. The codebars indicated 828 are five in number and are of the single type havingpermanently associated notch and lug attributes for effecting theselection of certain ones of the individually selectable elementsdenoted 963. The series of code bars 180 form the subject matter of thepresent invention. Their number corresponds to the requisite selectivepossibilities, or in other words, to the requirements of the particularsystem. Since the basic unit code employed in accordance with theinstant embodiment contemplates a live unit permutation, the totalnumber of said bar assemblies I80 will be some number which is amultiple of five.

In contemplation of the conventional stock quotation practice, thepresent system has been arbitrarily designated to make use of threestock Selection signals, each having, as aforesaid, the

constituent five unit code or together a total code made up. compositelyof the three five unit code signals. Where the total selectingpossibilities of but a single set of five code bars are adequate, itwill be understood that the code bar assemblies 180 need but includefive, to correspond with the minimum that may be associated with asingle stock selecting signal.

All of the code bars 188 as well as those indicated 828 are supportedfor limited longitudinal reciprocal movement. Referring now particularlyto the code bar assemblies 188, each will be noted to consist of a pairof notched bars II and I2, Fig. 4, secured together as at [3 by a rivetand spacer element or in any other. manner for maintaining rigid and inparallel alignment each pair of bars H and [2 which comprises anassembly 180. The selector notches H of each of the several bars II arelocated at regular spaced intervals, while those l of companion bars l2are likewise equally spaced but located transversely at intermediateintervals with respect to the notches l4. As each code bar assembly 180is moved from its right-hand (marking) to its left-hand (spacing)position, Fig. 3, the relative presentation of the notches I4 istransposed with those of the notches l5 so that accordingly, beneatheach selectable element 883, there may be presented one or the other ofthe notches 14 or l5 depending upon the relative placement of theparticular code bar assembly 180.

Considering for the momentthe individually selectable bars 883, it willbe noted from Fig. 2 that these members are supported in spacedrelationship each from the other within suitable slots IS in a comb 888.The end of each selectable element or rod 883 is bent over as at 904,and its extremity is conically pointed for insertion into a smallopening ll beneath each of the slots l8 of said comb 983. The seatingarrangement between the pointed end of the turned down portion 904 andits opening I! constitutes a fulcrum when expansion spring 986, confinedbetween a stationary collar 985 on rod 883 and a follower washer l8 atthe opposite end of said spring 888 exerts a mild influence towardsrotating each element 888 counterclockwise, as viewed in theillustration of Fig. 2.

This movement on the part of each selectable element or rod 883 isrestrained, however, when one or more of its roller flanges I9 isobstructed because of encounter with an unnotched portion of either ofthe bars II or l2, Fig. 3. For each arrangement of flanged collars 80!on any one of the selectable elements 883, there is suited a particulardistribution of the code bar assemblies 180 which cause to be presentedthe clearance notches l4 so as to permit said selectable element 883 torespond to the urge of its spring 806 and be moved (counterclockwise, asviewed in Fig. 2) until its extremity performs some particular functionfor which it is designed, such as the closing of a pair of contactpoints, the interference with a particular moving element, or otherselective function as is well-known in the printing telegraph art. I,

In the instant embodiment, each one of the assemblies 180 is urged by anindividual spring 2| towards its left-hand position, Figs. 1 and 3, andis returned to its normal or right-hand position by a common return bail22, the latter being mounted on a bell crank 23 which isactuated throughits follower roller 24 by the cam 25 on the aforesaid shaft I8l.Normally each assembly 180 is held in its right-hand position by atensioned latch 858, an integral portion of which constitutes a trigger86 that is'actuated by another bell crank 855 under tension of spring88! to rotate counterclockwise when permitted to do so by the selectivewithdrawal of its associated code bar projection 854.

The manner of positioning and resetting the code bar assemblies I80 isnot vital to the present invention, any of several well-known methodsbeing equally adaptable. From Fig. 4 it may be observed that each of theflanged collars SM is so proportioned that its flanged disc I9 issituated centrally in one-half of its longitude so that by reversing anyone of the collars, its flange may be brought into alignment with one orthe other of the bars H or l2. When a collar is placed on the rod 883flange portion foremost, its code position is resolved in a definitemanner different from that when said collar is applied flange portionrearmost. Accordingly, any code combination may be provided for inaccordance with the distribution of the collars 90L From this, it may beseen that each selectable element 883 with its set of collars SM iscapable of assignment to any one of the thirty-two permutations (in afive unit code). Meanwhile, it is to be recalled that each code barassembly 180 is provided with both marking and spacing characteristicsin the proximity of its several selecting portions asa result of whichany code combination or distribution in the shifting arrangement of saidassemblies 188 establishes a code condition for selecting one of theelements 883 no matter where said element may be disposed throughout thelength of the code bar assembly group comprising the several units 188.

In addition to the versatility afforded by the principles disclosed anddescribed above, further advantages resulting from this arrangement aremanifest by a freer action between the selecting bars 188 and theelements 9M with which they are frequently in contactual engagement.Each collar 9M rolls freely on its shaft 883 and the several of them areassembled and confined by a stationary collar 21 at one end and asimilar securing element at the other end. The characteristic of eachcollar Bill is, therefore, that of a. rollar while cooperating witheither one of the bars II or ii, and for this reason, it may be notedthat considerably less friction will result than in the case ofconventional types of selector and selectable components.

While the present invention has been explained in contemplation of aspecific embodiment, it is recognized that numerous modifications andvariations may be made without departing from the essentials thereof.Accordingly, it is not intended to be limited by the specific details ofthe accompanying drawing nor by the particular language employed in theforegoing specification except as indicated by the hereinafter appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a code translator mechanism, a set of selectable bars one for eachused signal combination of a permutation code, a set of two-positioncode bars of identical form corresponding in number to the number ofcomponent elements of a code, each code bar having projecting portionsand intervening notches corresponding respectively to the twoalternative characteristics of each code element, and code projectionscorresponding in number to the number of said elements in a code carriedby each selectable bar and respectively positioned thereon according tothe character of a particular signal to cooperate with one or the otherof the projections and notches of the respective code bars whereby thecode bars control the selectable bars in accordance with the respectiveelements of the code.

2. In a permutation selector mechanism, a set of selector elements eachcomprised of a plurality of notched bars, the several bars of eachelement having their notches staggered so as to be at variance withother notches of bars forming part of the same element, and a pluralityof selectable members traversing said elements and having portionspresentable opposite predetermined bars of ones of said elements.

3. A method of increasing the selective possibility of a permutationselector mechanism employing coded selector elements traversed byindividually selectable members which comprises the steps of providingmultiple selecting areas in staggered alignment under the control ofeach selectable element, and increasing the number of selectable membersby arranging additional ones of them to be served by the increment ofsaid multiple selecting areas.

4. In a permutation selector, a set of elements each positioned by asignal impulse comprising a factor of a permutation code, a pair of barscomprising each of said elements having notches edgewlse thereof, thenotches of each bar being offset with respect to the notches of itsassociated bar, and a plurality of selectable members each havingprojections presentable opposite either of the bars or each element.

5. In a code translator mechanism for a signaling system wherein thesignals are composed of different permutations of a definite number ofelements capable of two different characteristics, a plurality ofselectable members one for each used signal combination of a permutationcode, two-position permutation members each composed of two portionsrigidly fixed together each of said portions having a series of notchessituated in intermediate staggered relation to the notches of the otherof said portions, and code projections associated with said selectablemembers equal to the number of said elements and individuallydistributed thereon according to the characteristic of the elements oi asignal.

6. In a code selecting mechanism, a set of selecting members arranged inparallel alignment, a plurality of selectable devices arranged in analignment traversing said parallel arrangement oi selecting members, aset oi reversible projecting elements associated with each of saidselectable devices, and portions on said selecting members presentablein the proximity of said reversible projecting elements aflording eitherblocking or permissive characteristics thereto.

'7. In a code bar selector, a set of selecting members each comprised ofa pair of bars, said bars being of identical notch and lug arrangementwith the lugs of one of said bars opposite the notches oi the other ofsaid bars of each pair, a plurality of selectable devices each having aset of projections corresponding to said members, and means forassociating said projections with the bars of each of said pairsalternatively.

LOUIS M. POTTS.

